It is so good to be back in classrooms again! All summer I worked around the U.S. with teachers, but the kids were off for the summer. Last week our schools were open, so I got to go to a few of my favorite rooms to work with the students (and their teachers). I visited [...]
Archive for August, 2011
Starting stations, one by one
Posted in Work stations on August 30, 2011 | 2 Comments »
Poetry Friday: Lullaby
Posted in Poetry Friday on August 26, 2011 | Leave a Comment »
Explore the idea of a quiet poem by studying lullabies with your class. Here’s one to get you started: Lullaby by Christina G. Rossetti Flowers are closed and lambs are sleeping; Lullaby, oh, lullaby! Stars are up, the moon is peeping; Lullaby, oh, lullaby! While the birds are silence keeping, Lullaby, oh, lullaby! [...]
Calling all fellow bargain hunters!
Posted in Great stuff on August 22, 2011 | 3 Comments »
One sure sign of the beginning of the school year is when my local Target starts to stock back-to-school items in their $1 section. Some of these items cost $2, or $2.50, but they are still great finds for organizing your classroom. What bargains have you found this year? Share your story in the comments [...]
Poetry Friday: This is My Rock
Posted in Poetry Friday on August 19, 2011 | 1 Comment »
David McCord was one of my favorite poets when I began teaching in the 1970s. His poems still remain my favorites today. Here’s one to share with your class: This Is My Rock by David McCord This is my rock, And here I run To steal the secret of the sun; This is my rock, [...]
How is your classroom coming along?
Posted in Great classroom spaces on August 17, 2011 | 7 Comments »
As we begin a new school year, I am curious to hear from all of you about what changes you have made to your classroom. Have you created new areas for quiet reading, or for new work stations? Did you get a chance to declutter? What do you hope to accomplish with the changes? How [...]
Poetry Friday: What Are Heavy?
Posted in Poetry Friday on August 12, 2011 | 1 Comment »
I was browsing my poetry books and wanted to share this one with you. It’s from an anthology called Small Talk: A Book of Short Poems selected by Lee Bennett Hopkins (another of my favorite poets). What Are Heavy? by Christina Rossetti What are heavy? Sea-sand and sorrow. What are brief? Today and tomorrow. What [...]
Two favorite reading spots
Posted in Inspirations on August 11, 2011 | 1 Comment »
Two of my blog readers sent in photos of their favorite reading spots after I shared mine in a recent post. The first one is from Peggy from Colorado, whose husband built the flagstone patio all by himself! The second one is from Gayle from Ohio, whose reading “cottage” is a converted three-season porch with [...]
Family reading time — continued
Posted in Inspirations on August 9, 2011 | 1 Comment »
Last week I shared a couple of pictures from my childhood that showed my siblings, my dad, and my children enjoying books together. A few days later I received this great photo from Nancy Barth of a quilt that she and her family made for her mom’s birthday. It shows several generations of siblings, nieces, [...]
Poetry Friday: Hope
Posted in Poetry Friday on August 5, 2011 | Leave a Comment »
This is such a sweet, sweet poem by Emily Dickinson. It’s one of my favorites. Happy Poetry Friday! “Hope” is the thing with feathers Emily Dickinson “Hope” is the thing with feathers – That perches in the soul – And sings the tune without the words – And never stops – at all – [...]
Setting up a drama work station
Posted in Books and videos, Work stations, tagged drama work stations on August 3, 2011 | 2 Comments »
Have you been thinking about setting up a drama station in your classroom? Here is your chance to find out all you need to know about making this great station work for you and your students! Watch the video and then you can download two chapters from Practice with Purpose and Literacy Work Stations where [...]
